Aaron Rodgers: We’re a more physically intimidating team

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers watched the Seahawks win the Super Bowl in February and took “a hard look” at what made them the best in the league last season.

Rodgers saw big, physical players all over the place and noticed that his own team wasn’t built in a similar fashion. Heading into the 2014 season, though, Rodgers thinks that the Packers have done a good job of addressing their need to bulk up.

“I think we’re a bigger, more physically intimidating team,” Rodgers said, via ESPN.com. “We haven’t had the kind of physical talent as far as size here in a while. I think there’s been times — I think back to playing Jacksonville in ’08 in Jacksonville [a 20-16 Packers’ loss], some of the battles we’ve had with our division teams at times — where you walk on the field and feel like you’re kind of a JV team.”

Rodgers pointed to the arrival of linebacker Julius Peppers, linebacker Adrian Hubbard and tight end Richard Rodgers and the return of tackle Derek Sherrod as players who have helped the team get more physical this offseason. It’s hardly an overhaul of the roster, but a little power and better health would be two clear improvements over last year in Green Bay.

“I think there’s been times where you walk on the field and feel like you’re kind of a JV team”. Wow. What a slap to the face of the front office.

rpiotr01 says:Jun 24, 2014 3:29 PM

Say what you want about Rodgers, the guy is as open and honest as they come for a big name.

stellarperformance says:Jun 24, 2014 3:31 PM

Just returning the injured players from the last two years would provide for this description. This is the best team the Packers have had since 2010…..if they stay healthy. It’s some other teams turn to be the league leader is games missed by starters.

You might believe this for another 72 days and 4 hours, but in 72 days and 8 hours, you will realize that you are still a finesse team unable to deal with the brutal nature of any NFC West team, let alone the World Champions.

deltaoracle says:Jun 24, 2014 3:39 PM

I don’t think they’re necessarily going to be a physically intimidating team.
I do think they’re going to be a more athletic team, and a better team. Not good news for the rest of the division.

Agreed. And the team is always a direct reflection of their head coach. Mike McCarthy’s “pound of bacon” per day this off season has paid off, so it seems. He’s very physically intimidating compared to last year. Just ask Kohl’s Dept. Store!

Whatever the Packers may be, physically intimidating isn’t it. Never has been.

Bringing in an elderly Julius Peppers, well past his prime, does nothing to change that. Nor do the other guys, who have hardly even played.

It’s always up to Rodgers to overcome the weak defense and 50 sacks a year.

themeccalambeaufield says:Jun 24, 2014 4:25 PM

nothing can save the cheeseheads downward decline to ineptitude

Playing the queens seems to rectify that every year, 1 win out of the last 10 ouch!

deltaoracle says:Jun 24, 2014 4:34 PM

Packers won the division last year for the third straight season.
They added a draft class that most commentators ranked very high.
They also added Hubbard and Colt Lyerla as UFAs, players many thought might be drafted on the second day of the draft.
They have a lot of players back who were injured last year.
Even if math’s not your strong suit, I don’t see how anyone outside of East Dakota can add that up and not believe the Pack will be tough this year.

Whether you’re a Green Bay fan or not, this team is the favorite to win the NFC North.

So who’s complaining? Not Green Bay fans.

It’s people who might not see the facts straight.

ragnarthemagnificent says:Jun 24, 2014 4:42 PM

Without A-Rodge playing they are a JV team, proved that last year.

fartweasel says:Jun 24, 2014 4:48 PM

Just because Rodgers talks, Packer fans will listen and believe. Unfortunately, adding 100 year old Julius Peppers to the team with Clay Mathews as the only other playmaker, will not help their terrible linebacking and dbacks. The lions, bears and vikes all got better on offense this off season. The Packers TT did not keep up with his draft or free agent crop. Should be fun to watch the nfc north.

stellarperformance says:Jun 24, 2014 4:55 PM

This team is well-positioned to do great things…..and it will.

themeccalambeaufield says:Jun 24, 2014 4:58 PM

Gotta love the ingenuity with the annual offseason chest beating by the purple posters with the ever witty girl names and fat comments. It would be interesting to see the collective age of the posters because the only time I witness this personally is when I hear kids on the playground when I pick up my children. I guess when your team continually gets beat down once the season starts after a summer of boasting it gets pretty tough to find anything positive regarding your own team so you have to resort to insults, very petty

No quarterback since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger has mastered an opponent better than Rodgers has Minnesota. His 116.4 rating in 11 regular-season games against the Vikings ranks No. 1 in NFL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That is only slightly higher than Rodgers’ 111 rating against the Detroit Lions, another NFC North foe.

Rodgers has completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 2,840 yards and 24 touchdowns with just four interceptions against the Vikings. His 8-4 record includes last season’s wild-card playoff victory at Lambeau Field.

ariani1985 says:
Jun 24, 2014 5:50 PM
I see the packer trolls are out today. Do you guys ever talk about something relevant?
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You’re right, we shouldn’t be talking about irrelevant things like the Bears, vikings, and lions.

usdcoyotesfan says:Jun 24, 2014 8:14 PM

Don’t you Viking fans get it? “Erin” missed as much time as he did because THE DOCTORS WOULDN’T LET HIM PLAY!!!!!!! Get a damn clue.

The Packers even without Aaron Rodgers led the division…and was only a field goal away from beating the niners. You can’t make a case that we can’t execute without A-Rod. The Pack got more physical players and is now better than they were last year. Think about it.
Aaron Rodgers, healthy, throwing to Jordy and Adams, Lacy running the ball, and Clay giving you concussions. Got a headache yet Bears fans?

I’m so glad that I cheer for a team that has won something important in their history.

chris1cat says:Jun 25, 2014 7:56 AM

sonofad says: Jun 24, 2014 6:59 PM

No quarterback since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger has mastered an opponent better than Rodgers has Minnesota. His 116.4 rating in 11 regular-season games against the Vikings ranks No. 1 in NFL history, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. That is only slightly higher than Rodgers’ 111 rating against the Detroit Lions, another NFC North foe.

Rodgers has completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 2,840 yards and 24 touchdowns with just four interceptions against the Vikings. His 8-4 record includes last season’s wild-card playoff victory at Lambeau Field.
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I’ll admit that’s an impressive run. All good things come to an end though and……….IT’S OVER.
AR and the rest of the so called Ho ,Ho, Ho, “Jolly Green Giants” will be mistreated by the ZIMZAM!

Bridgewater better then Rodgers, that’s a laugh. Hey everyone Bridgewater is one of the best quarterbacks in league history check out his stats 0 starts, 0 wins, 0 completions, 0 yards, 0 touchdowns, 0.0 q.b. rating. Rodgers stats, uh, nothing as good as Bridgewater, nfl best career passer rating 104.9, (even Payton Manning only has a 97), only qb to ever have career rating over 100. Highest touchdown per interception ratio in league history 3.62 (188 to 52) besting very other quarterback, 24,000 yards passing. He may have only won one Super Bowl, but that is a show of entire team, not just one player. Last year showed how good he really is, team with him played really well, team without sucked. If he had more talent around him he would be unstoppable like last half of 2010, and most of 2011. If pack defense can be good Viking fans gonna have a rough couple of games against the pack. I would rather be a finesse team then the NFC north perennial basement team like the Vikings. The packers have won the division title 3 years straight. The Past 12 seasons the pack has 7 division titles plus a Super Bowl title on a year they didn’t win the NFC north. Bears have 3 division title, and Vikings 2. In the last 20 years the packers are 2-1 in Super Bowls the bears 0-1 and Vikings failed to reach even just one. Ask me of the 4 NFC teams who has been the best team over last 3 years, 12, years, 20 years same answer The PACKERS hands down, way not be best in league, but sure do kick the but of the NFC north.

Soft? Not like Shane McClellan is a little dude. If u took that hit u would have shattered. Awkward landing with 250lbs. coming down very hard. Aaron is lucky to escape that with just a fractured collarbone.

rikker12 says:Jun 25, 2014 11:01 AM

I think what Rodgers is implying is that, PED’s are everywhere but GB…(Joke)
I would have to agree with him, but only certain positions. (DL, LB & S) look at some of the players we’ve had at those positions, They were not big and physical.
Losing Woodson, Collins & Jenkins just shows you what he’s talking about. Replacing these players with a player with similiar talent, doesn’t always equal the same results. That player has to have the same physical presence that he’s replacing… Which isn’t always easy.
Look for Bradford and Ha Ha to have a huge impact on the defense this year. (Big & Physical)

Aaron showed us that even though he was still injured from that McClellen hit, he saw his team being demolished, Lacy fighting game after game beaten and bruised, that as a leader he could come forward and go out with a bang, even WITH his collar bone and shoulder still bothering him. Now, picture this, he had a nice off season, relaxed, and as you non-Packer fans like to bring up, he did some team Yoga, which helped stretch and strengthen his muscle tissue. Now a fully healed Rodgers is going to come out and the Green Bay Packers will be right behind him, as they march onto the field this season, I think everyone will realize how much stronger they HAVE become, as a TEAM.

Just because Rodgers talks, Packer fans will listen and believe. Unfortunately, adding 100 year old Julius Peppers to the team with Clay Mathews as the only other playmaker, will not help their terrible linebacking and dbacks. The lions, bears and vikes all got better on offense this off season. The Packers TT did not keep up with his draft or free agent crop. Should be fun to watch the nfc north.
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Are you kidding me…..? The Bears made the worst TWO mistakes they could have in the off season, they let Peppers go, to the Pack of all teams, and what did they do before that, THEY SIGNED CRY-BABY-CUTTLER for an ungodly amount of their cap and ruined they’re chances of finding a legitimate passing game this year. The lions!? Enough said on them, and come on, the Vikings, when is the last time they made it to the Super Bowl…hmmm…
Go Pack Go.

is it 1997? nobody is concernd or intimidated about the packers without rodgers.

stellarperformance says:Jun 25, 2014 2:03 PM

1997 or not, the Packers own the Vikings. How do your insults compute when they are broken down like that? Can’t you see your team is BELOW the Packers, when you spew your insults? The Packers OWN the Vikings, and they have done it with a crew performing at 60%. What do you think it will be like when they are 90-95%?